Give Yourself a Break
佚名 / Anonymous
No one can do it all. Each of us has to make choices and accept trade-offs. The problem is many people choose in ways that put themselves and their health last. They take better care of their houses and cars than they do of themselves. They put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own. That’s fine if it’s occasional. It would even be okay if there was a balance. But most people living that way are wearing themselves out， feeling out of control. Fortunately， life doesn’t have to be like that.
One phrase can be very helpful. It’s the name of a book by Sol Gordon and Harold Brochure. Life Is Uncertain—Eat Dessert First！ If the good stuff always gets left until last， it usually doesn’t happen. Work before health and pleasure soon becomes work instead of health and pleasure.
Notice how it happens. Folks get busy and run short of time， they stop exercising or start skipping meals， next they steal time from their sleep. Soon they get too busy to see friends， they stop reading or playing ball， and six months go by without a long walk. That’s not a great way to live.
So what is the solution？ In a word， prioritize. Decide what you want in your life， and put that first. On a daily basis， that should include regular meals， adequate sleep and time with your family. Exercise， leisure， friendships and hobbies should also be regular aspects of life. The point is to do something for yourself， whatever makes you feel good about yourself and your life. Take a nap. Take a walk. Take time to play the piano. Of course， you’ll have to trade off some of the things that are currently clogging your schedule to make room for your new prioritie. Stop bringing your briefcase home from the office. Stop keeping your house as clean as your mother kept hers， Fill more of your time with want-to-dos instead of have-to-dos.
Add your name to the list of people who’re trying to make happy. Not “me first” or “me only” but “me too”. Balance is the goal. Permission is the key. And the time to start is now.
没有人可以做任何事。每个人都必须作出选择，接受调整。问题是许多人都会选择将自己和健康放置最后。他们关心房子和车子，胜过他们自己。他们将别人的需求放于首位。如果是偶尔的事，那也是可以的。如果能保持平衡，那也没问题。但是许多人的那种生活方式使他们非常疲惫，感觉失控。幸运的是，生活不需要那样。
一句俗语非常有用：是索尔·高登与哈罗德·布罗舍尔合作的一本书的名字——《生活变幻莫测——吃了甜点再说》。如果好东西常常放置在最后，它们通常会消失。将工作放于健康和快乐之前，工作很快就会取代健康和快乐。
请注意它是怎样发生的：人们忙于工作，觉得时间很短；他们将锻炼和吃饭的时间省去；后来就减少休息的时间。很快，他们忙碌到没有时间去探望朋友；他们停止读书或是打球，六个月都不散步。这不是好的生活方式。
该怎样解决这种情况呢？总而言之，懂得取舍。看清你生活中想要的是什么，将其放置首位。以日常生活为基础，包括固定的膳食，足够的睡眠和与家人共处的时间。锻炼、休闲、友谊和爱好也是生活的基本方面。关键是做自己的事情：不管怎样，只要感觉自己和生活舒适就好。抽个空小睡一会、散散步、弹弹钢琴。当然，你必须将最近的许多麻烦事替换掉。不要将公文包从办公室带回家。不要将自己的房间打扫得像你母亲的房间一样洁净。将更多的时间用于你想做的事情，而不是必须做的事情。
将你的名字列入想要制造快乐的人的名单中。不要“我第一”或是“唯我独尊”，而要“我也是”。平衡才是目标。许可才是关键。就从此刻开始！
记忆填空
1. They everyone else’s needs ahead of their . That’s fine if it’s occasional. It would eyen be okay there was a balance. But most people living that way are wearing themselves ， feeling out of control.Fortunately， life doesn’t to be like that.
2. Folks get busy and short of time， they stop exercising or start skipping meals， next they steal from their sleep. Soon they get too busy to friends， they stop reading or playing ball， and six months go by without a long .That’s not a great to live.
佳句翻译
1. 每个人都必须作出选择，接受调整。
2. 看清你生活中想要的是什么，将其放置首位。
3. 将更多的时间用于你想做的事情，而不是必须做的事情。
短语应用
1. They take better care of their houses and cars than they do of themselves.
take care of：照顾；注意；抚养
2. Not“me first”or“me only”but“me too”.
not...but...：不是……而是
